Valve guide



v June 21, 1938. P. J; MARTEN VALVE GUIDE Filed. Aug. 10, 1957 EEJ.

IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented June 21, 1938 UNITE-D STATES PATENT- omes VALVE GUIDE Paul J. Marten, San Francisco, Calif.

Application August 10,

1 Claim.

. This invention relates to improvements in guides for flush tank valves.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a new and improved flush valve guide means adapted for use with standard flush valve equipment to insure a correct seating of the valve and the complete closure thereof to prevent'the flow of water therethrough.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved fiush valve guide means adapted to be detachably aihxed to flush valve mechanisms of various kinds. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved flush valve guide means which is capable of being adjusted'to permit its use with valves of various sizes.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claim or will be obvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure; For the purposes of ,this application I have elected to show herein certain forms and details of a guide for flush valves representative of my invention; it is understood. however, that the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is for the purpose of illustration only, and that therefore it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the invention,

nor is it to be given an interpretation such as might have the effect of limiting the claim short of the true and most comprehensive scope of the invention in the art.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a standar flush valve and the adjustable guide means constituting the subject of the present invention operatively associated therewith; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved valve guide means.

Referring to the drawing the numeral I designates the fitting of a standard flush valve having a depending threaded o'utletportion 2 for securing the valve in the bottom of a .water closet tank. (not illustrated). The upper end of the fitting, l is provided with a suitable seat 3 for a valve 4. Secured to one'side of the fitting l is a tubular overflow connection 5 having an upright overflow pipe 5' supported thereon. The valve 4 is buoyant and its lower portion is semi-l spherical in shape so it will suitably engage the seat 3 to prevent the passage of water therethrough.

The usual means for operating the valve 4 comprises a vertically disposed lift rod 6 secured at its lower end to the said valve and supported 1937, Serial No. 158,359

in an upright position by means of a guide sleeve 1 formed on an arm 8 which is secured to the overflow pipe 5. The upper end of the lift rod is arranged for the attachment of an operat ing lever (not shown). I

The valve 4 is normally held upon the seat 3 by the pressure of the water in the tank, but when it is raised upwardly through the lifting of the rod 6 the water in the tank will flow through the fitting l to the water closet, and 10 when the operating lever is again released, the weight of the valve will cause it to drop downwardly upon the seat to again effect the closing of the latter.

It frequently happens that the valve 4 while ll! descending to its normal position on the'seat 3 is carried by the water'entering the tank or by the water passing through the fitting I to a position where it doesnot properly engage with the said seat, thereby failing to prevent the continued flow of water from the tank into the water closet. The failure of the valve 4 to become properly seated'on the seat'3 results in a continued leakage of water through the valve, all of which is both annoying and wasteful.

In order that the aforesaid undesirable features might be eliminated, I have provided an improved guide means for insuring'the properseating of the valve 4 on its seat 3.

My improved guide means comprises a wire frame formed preferably from a single strand of wire which is bent so as to provide a semi-circular upper member 9, opposed but. spaced verti-. cal members l0, and a semi-circular lower member ll. tuting the frame are secured together, as at l2, by solder.or a weld. The lower member H of the frame is bent upwardly as at l3 to accommodate the overfiow connection 5. The size of the frame may be adjusted with respect to its .10

diameter by bending the upper and lower semicircular members! and H so the upright mem bers 1- are positioned closer or farther from one another, dependingwhether the device is to be used with; smaller or larger valves 4. Secured at their ends to the upper and lo'wer upright members 9 and II are a plurality of substantially vertical bars l4 which constitute guide meansfor confining the reciprocating movement of the valve 4 within a fixed vertical path. Secured to two of the vertically disposed bars l4 which are located preferably at points opposite the opening in the frame between the two upright members Ill, are a plurality of spring clips .l5 whichare adapted to be applied to the overflow pipe 5' so 55.

The endsof the strand of wire consi- 35- as to maintain the guide means in its'propei' position with respect to the normal vertical path in which the valve 4 travels when, moved to open and closed positions.

It is to he understood that the vertical position 0! the substantially cylindrical cage or frame which constitutes my improved valve guide means may be changed by sliding the spring clips s What I claim is:

In a flush valve, a tubular fitting through which water is adapted to flow, a valve seat on the fitting, a valve adapted to engage the seat. an upright overflow pipe connected to the fitting, a substantially cylindrical guide member supported by the overflow pipe by a clip means and extending around the valve for guiding the valve into proper seating engagement with the seat. the said guide member comprising a flexible wire bent so as to provide spaced semi-circular upper and lower members joined to one another by spaced but adjacent upright members. and a series of upright bars connected to the upper and lower semi-circular members.

. PAUL J. mm. 

